New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-23
TALKS WITH THE PASSENGERS
C.P. HUNTINGToNs EXPERIENCE.
HE AND F. sTURGrs WE'RE on THE BRIrAYNIc-

C. F. Huntingdon was among the saloon passengers OF
the Britannia He had closed his house for the sum
mer and along with his family intended to take an
excursion to Europe. which he has never visited. "And
I didn't get there after ALL said he aughingly TO a
TRIBUNE reporter who met him up ut his stables In Park
yesterday afternoon. IIo was looking strong and
well and apparently the for the excitement
through which he had passed He got shore from the
tug william Fletcher about and went to the Fifth
Avenue Hotel, his own house, 40 Thirtycghhst and
Park-ave not prepared for his unexpected return
This is what he said about the collision:
"On Thursday afternoon there was dense fog and our
whistle blowing l in my room-l
had the captains-when 1 saw little
stir in front and walked out I saw the
Celtic coming right out OF the fog, probably scarcely
length from and lust at light angles with Captain
Perry rang the bell 20 tel the engineer to go forward
with all speed There chance to back. stepped
right back where my family and sad There is
big steamer almost aboard OF "a am she'll strike
US ran back and got to my former place just she
crashed into The vessels came together with good
deal OF noise and supposed a. the moment that It
than IL really turned out Three Of boats were
broken. The bOwspr o. the Celtic hight on board
The Celtic cut through nearly to the middle OF ship
ana probably would have quito TO middle but for
the fact that going somewhat rapidly and tore
the Cetcs cutwater right away. think that is what
saveduM
"The vessels were together scarcely a minute The
captain got the boats lowered no could About
100 passengers went By hem TO the Celtic. Tho Celtic
also badly injured, but dld not lower any boats
There was no great disturbance among passengers
The steeragc passengers crowded into tho boats and
nearly filed them-men aud women, mostly men,
Among tho cabin passengers who went 10 tho Ceu
were MI Roosevelt OF New York. and his wife and Mr.
Patton
Tho Britannia was struck tho water
tight compartment second from the stern.
The bulwarks cut rsh OF for ny foea The Celtic
tore her way right along TO my knowledge, there were
four people killed ono was girl about twelve four
con years old and there three others-two men,
think and one q boy; but l would not be certain
about that The oldest mans vito
board. Several others wero Injured DR..
Mclaughlan the ship, surgeon remained cool and col
lectod AMI attended, to those who woro hurt
"The ladies' behaved worry VOL Although they knew
they were I'm terrible danger. those In my party got up
and put their life preseryers. and did not 10 be
lurriod had my WIFE, my my dau gher. me- nleco
and Miss Gayor with mo- and also three servants My
behaved Ike trump. Ho gave his lfebeit to one
OF the maids There were lfebelts for ali tho passon-
gers but IN the general excitement could not ind
them. There set o: passengers who did not
behave 80 crsditably, but just flow for tho
boats and went tho sido and into them
without ~ regard for anybody anything. Captain
Perry behaved extremely well. think no thought at first
that hi ship cut In two Fora moment he looked
a. though the thing all mp. We turned back home
OF the Wilson ships 10 Join and tho British Queen
also fell In with and stayed with az the way In.
don't believe our slip 20 blame. don't believe the
other ship but II anything she was out OF her
way The fog horns Of both boats were blowing In the
morning when the tug William Fletcher ont to
We were told that about eight other tugs were
looking The passengers got OF with the tug and
were landed about o'cock-that Is, n except those
who went TO the Celtic"
Another OF the passengers on tho Britannia Fred
erick sturges OF Wall Street TRIBUNE reporter called
on him at his home No 80 Parkayo n tho afternoon
Mr sturgos has hal large experience OF ocean pass
ages having been about twentysix tinos, aud
gave coar and vivid account OF tho accident He said
AT SOS o'clock on Thursday evening on deck
under bridge fog which had been dense at inter
walls during the day at this time became thicker with
slight change In the wind Our fog whistle had been
sounding from time 20 tmo necessity required, and
was now kept blowing Suddenly tho deep note OF the
whistle OF another heard IN the distance
and an order was given the bridge 10 put tho helm
hard a-port Captain Perry was summoned from IBIS
stneroom aud at his post on the bridge almost ns
quickly tell you o. IT, As we swung around In
answer 10 our helm the sound OF tho other whistle
seemed 10 shift TO the nOrhwArd and bccamo more in
distinct tho vessel passing u.s. That must have
been the Impression OF tho captain. because after mo-
ment tie order given for the qnartermascr to re-
sumo the course. Almost as that done big
steamship doomed up out OF tho mist, coming almost
at right angles TO port side IL was In an III
stant evident that sho wasgoing 10 strike us.
Few passengers aware OF the impending danger
good many we're moving about the other side OF the
boat and 1t was about tho limo good many went below.
on came big ship and crashed into us Just AFT OF The
machinery bukhoad, making hole IN compartment
No A through which the water rushed our forward
motion rolled part Of her bow right off, and cured and
twisted the iron The upper part ron aimed unnurcd
and continued the work OF destruction sweeping our
iii ,Ia IA
overheard and spntcring bulwarks aud deck some
people were killed by the spnters Three of our boats
were destroyed.
81 must say that the passengers behaved extremely
well hardly expected 10 the stecgc passengers ms
well az everybody else behave with much common
sense and composure. orders were given at 10
lower the boats 49, was frat feared that
siuking This was quickly and successfully done They
were manned and rapidly filled with passengers without
loss life any great confusion by the time the last
boat prepared to leave the vessel the captain IN
formed the passengers that the danger was past ~ the
Britannia not sinking and tho bulkheads were hold
ing The people got calmcr and the last boat dispatched
was recalled The passengers had been furnished with
cbuOys in of need Both the ships boats and tho
e-buoys had been inspected by tho Uniod States In
spcctor Just before left port Order rapidly rs
stored and the duties Of the various departments
sumed. About three hours later sat down 10 dinner
as usual.
Both the Celtic and the Britannia lay still all night,
TO each others calls to show that they
stlIl in company and all right II denscy foggy
during the night, but quiet. In the morning shortly
after O'Clock started engines and headed for
Eome the Celtic bearing company We foil In with
the MarcngO about or 10 o'clock She Joined NJ our
request and kept with The British Queen joined
about o'clock In the afternoon. Both the Celtic and
the Britannia had boon firing signal guns and dying
signals Of distress.
"The four vessels ali anchored Oft Sandy Hook about
o clock yesterday morning and lay there quietly. At
daybrcak 1t was found that the fog Ind again com on
The tug william Fletcher found about o'clock. We
were told that eight other tugs looking for
us. Mr. J. Bruce Ismay boarded from the tug. and
made arrangements for tho Immediate Decentralization
the passengers and their baggage They safely
landed by tug about IL o'clock the Britannia gets
ready In time for should not hesitate TO go with her